DA: Man unintentionally shot, killed friend during Oroville joyride

Oroville >> A man facing manslaughter charges allegedly unintentionally shot and killed his longtime friend during a night of partying and joyriding around Oroville on Sunday, prosecutors said.

Noah Gonzales, 25, of Oroville was charged Wednesday in Butte County Superior Court with a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the Sunday shooting death of 22-year-old Adam Krater.

Gonzales also faces an added allegation he used a handgun in the commission of a crime.

He has not yet entered a plea and is next scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for further arraignment proceedings.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said investigators believe Gonzales unintentionally shot Krater in the head while the pair was out partying and driving around Oroville early Sunday morning.

Ramsey said Gonzales had a semiautomatic handgun and was driving a pickup with Krater as a passenger, shooting off rounds outside the truck.

Investigators believe Gonzales fired off rounds in at least two locations, including area of Myers Street and at the Randy Jennings Memorial Bridge over the Feather River on Highway 162.

Investigators believe Gonzales may have unintentionally shot Krater at the bridge after pointing the gun outside the back sliding window of the pickup, Ramsey said.

While Gonzales was bringing his arm back into the truck, the gun went off, wounding Krater on the left side of the head, the district attorney said.

Portions of the episode were captured on social media, and Gonzales allegedly admitted his role in the shooting, Ramsey said.

Prosecutors are charging Gonzales with felony involuntary manslaughter because they believe the shooting, while accidental, was criminally negligent.

Ramsey said Gonzales and Krater have been described as longtime friends and roommates.

Oroville police have said they believe Gonzales dropped Krater off at Oroville Hospital around 2:45 a.m. Sunday and left the hospital building before officers arrived.

Krater died at the hospital.

Officers caught up with Gonzales about 9:30 a.m. Sunday and questioned him at the Police Department, police have said. Gonzales was arrested on suspicion of his alleged role in the shooting following a “detailed interview.”

Police have said they recovered the gun used in the incident. Ramsey said Gonzales allegedly dumped the handgun in a garbage bin following the shooting.